Bible Dictionary
Advocate
An advocate pleads another’s cause or provides help. Jesus Christ is the believer’s Advocate with the Father, while the Holy Spirit is likewise called the Helper or Advocate sent to Christ’s followers.
Definition
An advocate is one who pleads another’s cause, intercedes, defends, helps, or comforts. The term translates the Greek word parakletos, which includes the ideas of legal advocate, intercessor, and helper.
Biblical Usage
Jesus Christ is called the believer’s Advocate with the Father, interceding for Christians who sin, with his propitiatory work as the basis of that intercession. Jesus also uses the term of the Holy Spirit, whom he calls another Helper or Comforter sent from the Father.
Historical Background
Tertullus, called the orator, was a Roman advocate employed by the Jews to accuse Paul before Felix. The need for Roman advocates arose because Jews were often unfamiliar with Roman law and language.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Gr. parakletos), one who pleads another’s cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him. It is a name given by Christ three times to the Holy Ghost (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7, where the Greek word is rendered “Comforter,” q.v.). It is applied to Christ in 1 John 2:1, where the same Greek word is rendered “Advocate,” the rendering which it should have in all the places where it occurs. Tertullus “the orator” (Acts 24:1) was a Roman advocate whom the Jews employed to accuse Paul before Felix.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
or Paraclete, one that pleads the cause of another. (1 John 2:1) Used by Christ, (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7) to describe the office and work of the Holy Spirit, and translated Comforter, i.e. (see margin of Revised Version) Advocate, Helper, Intercessor. This use of the word is derived from the fact that the Jews, being largely ignorant of the Roman law and the Roman language, had to employ Roman advocates in their trials before Roman courts. Applied to Christ, (1 John 2:1)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ad'-vo-kat (parakletos): Found in 1Joh 2:1, "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The Greek word has several shades of meaning:</p><p>(1) a legal advocate;</p><p>(2) an intercessor,</p><p>(3) a helper generally.</p><p>In the passage before us the first and second meanings are included. Christ in heaven intercedes for Christians who sin upon earth. The next verse declares that He is the "propitiation for our sins" and it is His propitiatory work which lies at the basis of His intercession. The margins of the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version give as alternative readings Comforter, Helper, Greek Paraclete. Beyond doubt however, "advocate" is the correct translation in the passage in the epistle. The same Greek word also occurs in the Gospel of John (Joh 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) referring not to Christ but to the Holy Spirit, to whom Christ refers as "another comforter" whom He will send from the Father. In the Gospel various functions are ascribed to the Spirit in relation to believers and unbelievers. The word in the Gospel is inadequately translated "Comforter." The Spirit according to these passages, is more than Comforter and more than Advocate.</p><p>See PARACLETE; COMFORTER; HOLY SPIRIT.</p><p>E. Y. Mullins</p>